DESIRE GOD AND SEEK HIM By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” — Psalm 27:8 (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: THE CALL TO DESIRE AND SEEK GOD
God desires a people whose hearts are genuinely turned toward Him, people who do not merely speak about belonging to Him but demonstrate their devotion by seeking His presence, pursuing His will, and walking in obedience to His Word. When God's people truly desire Him, they seek to know Him more deeply. When they sincerely seek Him, they discover the importance of His presence, His truth, His correction, and His direction in their lives.
However, many who claim to belong to God have allowed their desires to become dominated by the things of this world. They spend their time pursuing possessions, personal ambitions, human recognition, comfort, and the satisfaction of their physical appetites. They become deeply concerned about what they lack materially, yet show little concern about the condition of their spiritual lives. They can spend hours planning how to obtain earthly possessions, but struggle to give a few moments to prayer, repentance, and the sincere seeking of God's face.
This condition reveals a serious disorder of the heart. God has not created people merely to pursue temporary things while neglecting their eternal relationship with Him. Earthly possessions have their proper place, but they cannot replace God, cleanse the human heart, or give eternal life. When temporary things become more desirable than the Lord, they begin to occupy a place that belongs to Him alone.
The Word of God calls us to examine what we truly desire. It challenges us to consider whether our hearts are turned toward the Creator or toward the things He created. It calls us to abandon spiritual carelessness, humble ourselves before Him, and seek Him with sincerity.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33.
Seeking God must not be treated as an activity reserved for times of desperation. It should be the continuous desire of everyone who sincerely wishes to walk with Him. The Lord calls us to turn from spiritual indifference, repent of our sins, and return to the fellowship for which we were created.
The central message of this lesson is clear: desire God above everything that competes with Him, seek His face with a sincere heart, and turn away from every path that leads toward spiritual destruction.
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GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY SEEK HIM
God invites His people to seek His face. He does not call them merely to seek the things He can provide, but to desire Him for who He is. There is a difference between seeking God because we love Him and seeking Him only because we want Him to satisfy our personal needs.
Many people become serious about prayer when they face difficulties, financial pressure, sickness, disappointment, or uncertainty. They may cry out to God when their plans fail, yet forget Him when life becomes comfortable. Such a relationship can become centred on personal benefit rather than sincere devotion.
God calls His people to seek Him in every season. They should desire His presence when they have plenty and when they have little, when circumstances are favourable and when they are difficult. Their commitment should not depend entirely upon whether they receive what they want.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13.
Seeking God with all our hearts means approaching Him sincerely rather than maintaining a divided allegiance. It means refusing to treat Him as a means of achieving selfish ambitions. It means desiring His wisdom, loving His truth, and submitting ourselves to His authority.
Those who seek God sincerely learn to value fellowship with Him above temporary satisfaction. They recognize that His presence is more precious than the possessions of this world and that knowing Him is greater than receiving public recognition.
Therefore, examine the reason you seek the Lord. Do you want to know Him, or do you mainly want Him to give you what you desire? God calls you to seek His face, love Him, and allow your whole life to be shaped by His truth.
THE DANGER OF DESIRING THE THINGS OF THE WORLD
One of the greatest spiritual dangers is allowing worldly desires to become more powerful than the desire for God. People may become so occupied with obtaining money, possessions, status, pleasure, and influence that they gradually neglect the most important relationship in their lives.
Earthly possessions are temporary. They cannot provide lasting spiritual satisfaction, forgive sin, or reconcile anyone to God. Yet people sometimes sacrifice their peace, integrity, relationships, and spiritual well-being in pursuit of things that eventually perish.
The problem is not that every material possession is sinful. Scripture teaches diligence, responsible stewardship, and the importance of providing for legitimate needs. The danger arises when material things become the centre of our lives and determine our decisions more than our devotion to God.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” — Matthew 16:26.
This question exposes the foolishness of exchanging eternal concerns for temporary rewards. A person may accumulate possessions and achieve impressive worldly success, yet remain spiritually impoverished because the heart has turned away from God.
When people desire the things of the world more than they desire the Lord, they become vulnerable to temptation. They may compromise their convictions, justify dishonesty, neglect prayer, and ignore the warnings of Scripture simply to acquire what they want.
Believers must therefore keep earthly possessions in their proper place. Use what God provides responsibly, but do not allow possessions to possess your heart. Seek first the Lord and His righteousness, remembering that eternal life cannot be purchased with money or secured through worldly achievement.
WHEN COMPLAINT REPLACES PRAYER
Many people are quick to complain about their circumstances. They express dissatisfaction, blame others, criticize their difficulties, and repeatedly speak about what they lack. Yet the same people may make little effort to humble themselves before God, seek His wisdom, or pray sincerely for His direction.
Complaining can become a distraction from the spiritual work that needs to take place within the heart. Instead of examining their attitudes and seeking the Lord, people may spend their energy accusing others, demanding change, and lamenting their condition. They want their circumstances to improve, but they are reluctant to allow God to correct their hearts.
Scripture encourages believers to bring their concerns to God in prayer rather than allowing anxiety and dissatisfaction to dominate them.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” — Philippians 4:6.
This does not mean that believers must pretend that suffering, injustice, or hardship does not exist. The Bible contains honest cries of sorrow and distress from people who called upon God during difficult times. The issue is whether our struggles drive us toward God or become an excuse to turn away from Him.
When you are troubled, pray. When you are confused, seek wisdom. When you recognize that you have sinned, repent. When you are dissatisfied, examine your heart before the Lord. Do not allow complaining to become a substitute for genuine dependence upon Him.
God invites His people to approach Him sincerely. Instead of spending all your energy describing your problems, begin seeking the One who can give you wisdom to respond faithfully to them.
EXAMINE WHAT YOUR HEART TRULY DESIRES
The desires of the heart influence the direction of a person's life. What someone consistently longs for, pursues, and values eventually shapes their priorities and decisions. If a person's deepest desire is for worldly recognition, their life will revolve around maintaining that recognition. If their greatest concern is material gain, they may become willing to sacrifice important values to obtain it.
However, when a person genuinely desires God, that desire begins to influence their conduct. They become more concerned with pleasing Him than impressing people. They seek to understand His Word, welcome correction, and resist whatever draws them away from His truth.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” — Psalm 37:4.
To delight in the Lord is to find joy in knowing Him and walking according to His ways. It is not a promise that God will fulfil every selfish wish. Rather, as we grow in fellowship with Him, our desires are increasingly shaped by His character and purposes.
The heart must therefore be examined continually. Ask yourself what occupies your thoughts, what consumes most of your time, and what you are willing to sacrifice to obtain what you want. Consider whether prayer and the Word of God have a central place in your life or whether they have become secondary to your ambitions.
Do not deceive yourself by assuming that occasional religious activities prove that your heart is fully devoted to God. Sincere devotion is reflected in the choices you make and the direction in which your life is moving.
Ask the Lord to expose misplaced desires and teach you to love what pleases Him. A heart that desires God will increasingly learn to reject those things that threaten its fellowship with Him.
HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD
Pride is a serious obstacle to seeking God. A proud person may act as though God owes them approval while they refuse to submit to His commandments. They may demand blessings but resist correction, insist upon their own way, and behave as though their decisions require no examination before the Lord.
Such an attitude is dangerous because it places human self-will above divine authority. God calls His people to approach Him with humility, acknowledging their dependence upon His mercy and wisdom.
“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” — James 4:6.
Humility means recognizing that we need God. It involves confessing our sins, admitting our limitations, and being willing to receive correction. A humble person does not assume that personal strength, knowledge, or achievements make them independent of the Lord.
Prayer, repentance, and fasting can be important expressions of humility when undertaken with sincere hearts. However, these practices are not methods of forcing God to grant our wishes. They do not purchase forgiveness or replace obedience. Their value lies in helping us turn our attention toward God, seek Him earnestly, and submit ourselves to His will.
The Lord is not seeking outward displays of religion while the heart remains rebellious. He desires sincerity and a willingness to turn away from sin.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” — Psalm 51:17.
Therefore, stop defending every attitude and decision as though you can never be wrong. Bow your heart before the Lord. Ask Him to reveal what needs to change, and respond to His correction with repentance and faith.
REPENTANCE OPENS THE WAY TO RESTORATION
God does not call people to repentance merely to expose their wrongdoing. He calls them to turn away from sin and return to Him. His correction reveals the seriousness of sin, but His mercy offers hope to those who sincerely repent.
When people recognize that they have neglected God, pursued ungodly desires, or resisted His instructions, they must not continue making excuses. They must acknowledge the truth about their condition and seek His forgiveness.
Repentance involves more than feeling sorrow because of the consequences of sin. It means turning away from the sinful path and choosing to walk in obedience to God. It includes a willingness to abandon dishonest practices, selfish ambitions, destructive habits, and every attitude that contradicts His Word.
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” — Acts 3:19.
God is merciful toward those who come to Him sincerely. Through Jesus Christ, forgiveness and reconciliation are offered to those who repent and believe. The sinner does not need to remain trapped in shame or rebellion when the Lord is calling them to return.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9.
Do not mistake God's patience for approval of sin. His patience provides an opportunity to repent and return to Him. The appropriate response to His mercy is not to continue in rebellion, but to receive His forgiveness with gratitude and pursue a changed life.
If you have drifted away from God, return to Him. If your desires have become worldly, surrender them to Him. If pride has prevented you from praying, humble yourself. The door of repentance is an invitation to leave the path of spiritual destruction and walk again in the way of life.
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TURN AWAY FROM SPIRITUAL DESTRUCTION AND CHOOSE LIFE
Sin is dangerous because it separates people from fellowship with God and leads them away from His truth. When people persistently reject His correction, they expose themselves to spiritual harm. They may become increasingly insensitive to conviction, comfortable with disobedience, and resistant to repentance.
This is why God's warnings must be taken seriously. His call to repentance is an expression of His concern that people should turn away from destruction and seek life in Him.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” — Deuteronomy 30:19.
Choosing life means responding to God in faith and obedience. It means refusing to let temporary desires govern our decisions and refusing to exchange the truth of God for the satisfaction of sin.
The world constantly presents opportunities to pursue things that may look attractive but ultimately damage our spiritual lives. Some temptations promise pleasure, others promise power, and others promise security or recognition. Yet no earthly reward can replace the eternal value of belonging to God.
Do not wait until the consequences of disobedience become severe before you take the Lord seriously. Respond to His Word today. Turn away from sin, seek His presence, and choose the path of obedience.
God's people must be careful not to become so absorbed in earthly concerns that they neglect eternity. Live responsibly in this world, but let your heart remain fixed upon the Lord and the life He offers through Jesus Christ.
MAKE SEEKING GOD YOUR DAILY PRIORITY
Seeking God is not a single event that ends after one prayer or one moment of repentance. It is a continuing pursuit that should shape the believer's daily life. Those who desire fellowship with Him must cultivate habits that help them remain attentive to His Word and responsive to His direction.
Prayer enables believers to bring their needs, concerns, confessions, and thanksgiving before the Lord. Reading and meditating on Scripture helps them understand His revealed will. Fellowship with other believers can provide encouragement, correction, and opportunities to serve. Faithful obedience puts the truth they have received into practice.
“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
This instruction does not mean that believers must speak prayers aloud every moment. It calls them to maintain a life of continual dependence upon God, bringing their thoughts and decisions before Him and remaining conscious of His authority.
Seeking God also requires persistence. There will be times when prayer feels difficult, circumstances remain unresolved, or answers do not come according to personal expectations. These moments should not cause believers to abandon their pursuit of the Lord. Instead, they should continue trusting Him while seeking wisdom and remaining obedient to His Word.
Do not wait for a crisis before you begin seeking God. Seek Him when you rise in the morning, throughout your responsibilities, and when you prepare to rest. Let His truth shape your choices, and let your desire for His presence grow stronger than your desire for temporary things.
A life devoted to seeking God will increasingly reflect humility, discernment, love, and obedience. This is the kind of spiritual growth that gives lasting value to our walk with Him.
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SUMMARY: DESIRE GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE
God calls His people to desire Him sincerely and seek His face with all their hearts. He does not want them to become so absorbed in material possessions, personal ambitions, and worldly pleasures that they neglect their spiritual lives.
Complaining without seeking God, pursuing possessions without regard for righteousness, and resisting correction are signs that our priorities need to be examined. The Lord calls us to humble ourselves, repent of sin, and return to the path of obedience.
Prayer, Scripture, fasting, and other spiritual disciplines should help us draw near to God with sincere hearts. They are not substitutes for repentance or means of forcing Him to fulfil our desires.
Through Jesus Christ, God offers forgiveness and restoration to those who turn to Him in faith. Therefore, do not allow pride, spiritual carelessness, or worldly desires to keep you from responding to His call.
Make seeking God your daily priority. Desire His presence more than temporary possessions, love His truth more than personal convenience, and choose obedience over the satisfaction of sin.
CONCLUSION: RETURN TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Examine your life honestly before God. Are you seeking Him because you love Him, or only because you want Him to provide what you desire? Are you devoting your energy to temporary things while neglecting prayer, repentance, and obedience? Have complaints and personal ambitions taken the place of sincere fellowship with Him?
Do not ignore these questions. Allow the Word of God to reveal the true condition of your heart. Where you have become proud, humble yourself. Where you have pursued ungodly desires, turn away from them. Where you have neglected prayer, begin seeking the Lord again with sincerity.
God is worthy of more than occasional attention when circumstances become difficult. He deserves the devotion of our hearts and the obedience of our lives. Let your desire for Him become greater than your desire for the things that pass away.
Remember that repentance is an opportunity to return to God, not a reason to despair. Through Jesus Christ, forgiveness and new life are available to those who come to Him sincerely.
Turn away from spiritual destruction and choose the way of life. Desire God, seek His face, and walk faithfully in His truth.
CALL TO ACTION: SEEK GOD DILIGENTLY TODAY
Make a sincere decision to put God first in your life. Set aside time for prayer and the study of His Word, and ask Him to expose any desire that has taken His rightful place in your heart.
Confess your sins without making excuses. Where your conduct has been influenced by pride, jealousy, greed, or worldly ambition, ask the Lord to change your heart. Make practical decisions that help you turn away from temptation and walk in obedience.
When difficulties arise, choose prayer instead of allowing complaint to control you. When you desire something, examine whether pursuing it will honour God. When Scripture corrects you, respond with humility rather than resistance.
Do not postpone seeking the Lord until a more convenient season. Begin today. Seek Him sincerely, remain faithful to His Word, and make His will the governing principle of your life.
FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT: GOD RECEIVES THE HUMBLE HEART
Be encouraged: no matter how far you may have drifted, you can turn to God in sincere repentance. Do not allow shame or past failures to convince you that there is no hope. The Lord calls sinners to repentance and offers forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Come before Him honestly. You do not need to pretend that your heart is right when you know that it has become distracted by worldly desires. Confess your need for His mercy, receive His truth, and take the path of obedience one step at a time.
Continue seeking the Lord even when circumstances are difficult. Trust Him rather than measuring His faithfulness by whether every personal desire is fulfilled. Let your greatest treasure be your relationship with Him, and let your life reflect the fruit of sincere devotion.
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” — James 4:8.
May your heart hunger for God's presence, your life be renewed through His Word, and your steps be established in righteousness. May you learn to value what is eternal above what is temporary, and may your devotion to the Lord remain steadfast throughout your life.
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Heavenly Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I need Your mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. I confess that I have often allowed worldly desires, personal ambitions, and the concerns of this life to take priority over seeking You.
Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for my sins and rose again. I repent of my sins and ask You to forgive me, cleanse my heart, and make me new. I turn away from the path of disobedience and choose to follow You.
I receive You as my Lord and Saviour. Teach me to desire Your presence above temporary possessions and to seek Your face with a sincere heart. Deliver me from pride, greed, selfish ambition, and every desire that draws me away from Your truth.
Holy Spirit, guide me in the Word of God. Teach me to pray faithfully, humble myself before the Lord, and obey His instructions. Give me the courage to repent when I am wrong and the strength to turn away from temptation.
Father, restore my fellowship with You and establish my life upon the truth of Jesus Christ. Help me to live in righteousness, love others sincerely, and remain faithful to You in every circumstance. May my thoughts, desires, words, and actions honour Your holy name.
Thank You for Your mercy, for the forgiveness of my sins, and for the new life You offer through Jesus Christ. I surrender my life to You and ask You to lead me from this day forward.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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